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Savings Strategies For Any Stage In Your Life

Some habits are good – like saving money. While most people would admit that saving money is critical to their financial well-being, many people lack the discipline or know-how to sock away the money they need. According to the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs, no matter what stage of life you are in, there are savings strategies that can work for you.

Set Savings GoalsThe standard advice is to try to save 10 to 15 percent of your income. If that’s too much, start with a lower goal – say 5 or 6 percent – and work your way up. Once you get into the habit of saving, it becomes easier to increase that percentage.

You’re much more likely to follow through on your savings goals if you write them down. Classify your goals into short-term goals like building an emergency fund, medium-term goals, such as saving for a down payment on a home, and long-term goals, like providing for a secure retirement.

Although it may not be easy to accomplish, the best strategy is to allocate your savings across all three goals. While the tendency is to put off saving for long-term goals, the reality is that the sooner you start, the better your chance of reaching them.

Take Advantage Of CompoundingMost savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts pay compound interest. Compound interest is the interest that you earn on the interest that the financial institution has paid and added to the amount you initially deposited. So, in effect, you’re earning interest on your interest.

You may be surprised to learn how quickly you may double your money through the magic of compounding. You can use the “Rule of 72” to find out. Just divide the interest rate your money is earning into 72. For example, if you want to know how long it will take to double money earning 6 percent interest, divide 6 into 72, and you’ll learn that it will take just 12 years for your money to double.

Spend Less, Save MoreThe flip side of saving more is, of course, spending less. The sooner you start spending less, the more you will be able to save. Prepare a budget, shop for bargains, compare prices on big-ticket purchases, eat out less often, keep your car longer – there are hundreds of ways to save money.

Pay Yourself FirstMany people’s saving strategy is to pay the bills, spend at whim, and save whatever is left over. The problem with this strategy is that there’s never anything left over. The way around this is to pay yourself first, and the easiest way to do this is to automate the process. Use your company’s payroll deduction plan, if available, and arrange for a fixed amount to be taken out of your paycheck and sent directly to your savings account or money market account. What you don’t see, you don’t spend.

Pay Off High Interest Credit Card DebtIt's difficult to get ahead when you're paying 17 percent or 18 percent a year on thousands of dollars in credit card debt. A good strategy would be to shift that debt to a lower interest rate loan, such as a home equity loan or line of credit. Your interest costs will go down, and you’ll be able to pay off the debt faster. Just be sure to set up a payment plan you can afford, since a home equity loan puts your home at risk.

Keep just one credit card for emergencies, and pay for everything by cash, check, or debit card – all these methods require you to have the money before you spend it.

Max Out Your Retirement SavingsOne of the best ways to save is through your employer’s retirement plan. When you contribute to a 401(k) or other tax-deferred retirement plan, your contribution is made with pre-tax dollars and the money in your account grows tax-deferred until it’s withdrawn at retirement. If your employer matches your contribution, that’s like getting free money. Always try to contribute the maximum allowed, but if you can’t, at least contribute enough to get the full employer match.

If you don’t have a retirement plan at work, you should open a traditional or Roth IRA, which also offer various tax benefits.

Bank Any And All WindfallsWhether it’s an income tax refund, a bonus, or a mail-in rebate, don’t spend it. Deposit the money in the bank or in an investment account and watch it grow.

Get EducatedTake the time to learn how you can effectively manage your personal finances. A good place to start is to visit the AICPA’s 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy web site, at www.360financialliteracy.org.

Work With A CPACPAs are skilled in helping clients create a financial plan that leads to a secure financial future. Make an appointment today with your WKMR representative to learn additional strategies for improving your finances.